Andruw Jones’ Cooperstown candidacy

Andruw Jones is in his sixth 12 months on the Hall of Fame poll. Here’s his case for election into Cooperstown.

Jones’ defensive prowess in heart discipline and energy on the plate throughout his peak helped put him within the dialog with a few of the finest we’ve seen on the place. His protection led to 10 Gold Glove Awards. He crushed 434 profession dwelling runs, together with an MLB-leading 51 in 2005. From 1998-2006, he hit 319 of these homers whereas slugging .513. His years after enjoying in Atlanta, from 2008-12 with the Dodgers, Rangers, White Sox and Yankees, represented a steep drop-off, which can be why his candidacy continues to be underway. He slugged .424 and hit .210, with 66 homers in 435 video games over these later years.

After receiving 7.3% of the vote from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in 2018 and seven.5% in ’19, Jones’ numbers have steadily risen — to 19.4% in ’20, 33.9% in ’21 and 41.4% in ’22.

Here are 4 the explanation why Jones could be a deserving Hall of Famer:

1. A trophy case stuffed with Gold Gloves
As talked about above, Jones received 10 Gold Gloves in his profession. Here’s the complete listing of outfielders to win extra: Roberto Clemente and Willie Mays. That’s it — two first-ballot Hall of Famers.

Jones is one in all 4 outfielders to win precisely 10 Gold Gloves, with Ken Griffey Jr., Al Kaline and Ichiro Suzuki. That’s two extra first-ballot Hall of Famers and one other who appears certain to be the identical when he reaches the poll, in Suzuki. Sure, a handful of trophies alone don’t ebook a ticket to Cooperstown, however accumulating extra of them than all however a choose group of heart fielders supplies proof as to how dominant Jones’ protection was.

Let’s go a step additional. Overall, there have been 15 non-pitchers to win not less than 10 Gold Gloves. Only 4 of them additionally hit not less than 400 dwelling runs: Mays, Griffey, Mike Schmidt and Jones. That’s proper, one other listing comprised fully of first-ballot Hall of Famers, plus Jones.

Put merely, each different outfielder with Jones’ stage of defensive prowess, and each defender on his stage to additionally slug as a lot as he did, is within the Hall of Fame.

2. Plus, different quantifiable defensive capability
Gold Gloves are an effective way to acknowledge sturdy defenders, however they’re voted on by people, partly — they’re awards. We can use precise statistics to point out Jones’ dominance in heart, too.

He accrued 24.4 defensive WAR, per Baseball Reference, in his profession. That’s probably the most of any outfielder in MLB historical past, by 5.6.

During his full seasons in Atlanta, from 1997-2007, he had 26.7 defensive WAR, 10.2 greater than every other defender at any place in that span (Ivan Rodriguez). That distinction between first and second on the listing was the identical because the distinction between Nos. 2 and 56 on the listing. That’s a hefty lead, and once more — amongst all defenders.

We don’t have defensive runs saved or outs above common to span Jones’ profession, however Baseball Reference has a stat known as complete zone runs, which is actually a precursor to the concept of DRS. Jones amassed 230 complete zone runs, probably the most by any participant as a middle fielder because the stat’s knowledge begins (1953), forward of Mays’ 176.

There’s no query Jones is among the many best defensive heart fielders of all time.

3. Adding loads of worth throughout his peak
As the Gold Gloves plus 400 homers stat reveals, Jones wasn’t simply about that protection. Here’s one other piece of proof towards that time. During that aforementioned span from 1998 to 2006, Jones totaled 54.5 WAR. That ranked third amongst place gamers, behind solely Alex Rodriguez (70.6) and Barry Bonds (67.6).

Rodriguez received two MVP Awards in that span; Bonds received 4, consecutively. Yes, these two had been in a category of their very own on this stat throughout that span, however Jones was a strong third — once more, amongst all place gamers.

And, sure, protection is a part of WAR — a key part to how he helped his staff. But he didn’t rack it up solely by manning his place. His 319 homers ranked eighth within the Majors in that span and his 940 RBIs had been ninth.

4. Favorable rankings at his place
Again, it is not solely defensively the place Jones ranks nicely amongst fellow heart fielders. His peak seven-year WAR — the sum of his seven highest totals, not essentially consecutively — was 46.4. That’s forward of the typical of the 19 Hall of Fame heart fielders, which is 44.7. In truth, solely eight heart fielders have had a better peak seven-year WAR: Mays, Ty Cobb, Mike Trout, Mickey Mantle, Tris Speaker, Griffey, Joe DiMaggio and Duke Snider. That’s seven Hall of Famers and one other who might be there sooner or later, in Trout.

This is sensible based mostly off Jones’ 1998-2006 WAR rank, famous above, too. His peak, whether or not we have a look at seven years or 9, ranks favorably — each amongst his friends on the time and amongst others to play his place all through historical past.

Therein lies the query with Jones and his candidacy. There’s loads of proof supporting his being a Hall of Famer, numbers-wise, at his peak. Will that result in his being elected ultimately?